Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-28
LITIGATION OVER WILLS.
The Fight Over Samuel j. Tilden's
Fortune Growing Interesting.

The Fight Over Samuel j. Tilden's
Fortune Growing Interesting.
NEW YORK, Feb. 26.-The contest over
Samuel j. Tilden's Will is growing inter-
esting. IL was foreshadowed in these
letters two months before any legal docu-
ments were fled. The New York news
papers renamed silent. The executors
named in the will are John Bigelow, ex-
United States Minister to France. Andrew
II. Green, the Conn troiler OF the city, and
George W. Smith, Mr.. Tilden's private
secretary. By it's terms the bulk OF HIS
fortune, amounting to 100000, was
given to the executors, in trust, Tor
public library or any other purpose "use-
ful to mankind" They were to receive
So 900 a year each for their services as
executors. The inde6niteness OF the be-
quest, under well-settled decisions Of the
Court of Appeals, opened the doors TO Mr..
Tilden's natural heirs and one OF them
has taken the offensive. The executors
concede that the devise is valid only for
a public library. ii the library scheme
doesn't 90 through the whole bequest for
purposes "useful to mankind" tails. The
will instructed the executors, as a first
step, to obtain from the Legislature an
act creating corporation to be called
"Fhe Tilden Trust" Under this act the
executors are 10 name the first trustees
of The corporation, who are to organize,
receive the money and devote it to the
library. The act of incorporation is now
before the Legislature. In this act Mr..
Green, John BigelOw and George w.
| Smith are made permanent trustees OF the
fund, with power 10 add TWO more TO the
board. These five trustees are to appoint
president, vice president, secrel airy and
treasurer, who are TO hold office subject
to the will Of the board, and who are TO
receive such compensation as the bylaws
prescribe. Mr.. Andrew II. Green is now
very busy In trying to array public opin-
ion against the majority of the Assembly
for presumlng to add TO his act of incor-
poratlon an amendment saving the rights
of the Tiden family. The act, confess
eddy drawn by MIR. Green's lawyers, 1T
Will be seen, makes Mr.. Green and his
coexecutors trustees for life, and In effect
| authorizes them to tx their own salaries.
This is much more than Mr.. Tilden did IN
his will. This point, however, the AS
| sembly conceded, but it insisted upon
rider providing that nothing in the act
| should affect the rights OF any parties 10
any action now pending or of any of the
heirs-at-law of Mr.. Iilden. Mr.. Green
fought Enormously but unsuccesstully to
| nave this rider stricken out. The Times
ItputtS DltIl dS threatening IudIs III IL 10
retained, the executors will not accept
the act, and will do nothing beyond draw
ing $4,000 year from Mr.. TIlden's for
! tune toward carrying out MIR. Tilden's
wishes until an act is passed TO suit him.
1t is the opinion Of good lawyers, like
| Noah Davis and George Bliss, that thu
rider is OF no value either way, and nei-
| ther helps the heirs nor hurts the eXecu-
tors, but Mr.. Green seems to be on the
rampage about it and is apparently backed
up by the newspapers. 1t begins to look
as though the people would he the suf-
| ferers and the lawyers the gamers. Be-
tween MIR. Green's Obstinacy and the in
herent weakness of the will, the whole OF
Mr.. Tllden's money may go to his neph-
ews and nieces and their lawyers. What
a comment on the legal ability OF the sage
OF Greystone, who has drawn his Will so
loosely that his own ilk is fattening on
what he left behind him.
A. T. Stewards will stands the test no
better. 1t is threatened seriously by rea-
son of its Indebtedness, and yet one of
the shrewdest of lawyers drew it. For
| tunately, he will be the only sufferer If
the Will is upset. ZISKA.